Chapter 036: Teaching You How to Be a Person

Chapter 036: Teaching You a Lesson

Chu Fei and Chen Xiaoman turned their heads simultaneously and saw two sports cars parked by the roadside not far away. Several young people were getting out and walking toward them. The one at the front was the one who had spoken.

“Jiang Kai?”

Seeing the young man approach, Chen Xiaoman quickly stood up, a happy smile lighting her face—only for the smile to freeze in an instant.

“Chen Xiaoman, you owe me an explanation.” The well-dressed young man glared angrily at Chen Xiaoman, his gaze flicking coldly to Chu Fei.

“W-what explanation?” Chen Xiaoman stammered, caught off guard.

“Chen Xiaoman, don’t play dumb with me.” The young man’s face darkened, his teeth gritted as he stared at her. “What’s your relationship with this guy? Don’t tell me there’s nothing between you. I saw it clearly just now—you were feeding each other, all lovey-dovey. When have you ever acted that close with me in two years of dating? Are you still going to deny it?”

“It’s not what you think, I—” Chen Xiaoman’s face went pale, all her happiness replaced by panic and unease. She tried to explain, but the words tangled on her tongue.

“Not what I think? Ha! Chen Xiaoman, I could forgive you for treating me like a fool before, but do you think I’m blind now? I saw it with my own eyes—how intimate you two were. I was jealous watching you! Have you ever treated me like that in all the time we’ve been together? Answer me!” His voice was loud and ugly.

“Jiang Kai, it’s really not like that, we—”

Chen Xiaoman tried to explain, but another voice, sharp and ill-timed, cut her off.

“Chen Xiaoman, stop trying to deny it. Not only did Jiang Kai see it, we all saw it. Are you saying we’re all blind?” A fashionable girl walked up to stand beside Jiang Kai, looking down at Chen Xiaoman with contempt. Then she turned to Jiang Kai: “I told you before, girls from poor families are never as innocent as they seem. They’re all vain and fake to the core. Now you see it for yourself—she’s two-timing you. You’re happy just to hold her hand, but maybe she’s already sleeping with someone else. I really feel sorry for you…”

“Shen Yu, shut up!” Jiang Kai roared at her.

“Fine, I’ll stop. The truth’s right in front of you, anyway—believe it or not.” The girl curled her lip and stepped aside, her eyes full of scorn as she looked at Chen Xiaoman.

“Jiang Kai, Shen Yu is right. The truth is plain to see—how can you not believe it?” Another young man spoke, joining Jiang Kai and casting a dismissive glance at Chen Xiaoman. "Girls like her, with their scheming ways, are everywhere. She’s been acting all innocent just to fool naive guys like you."

“Xia Hui, enough!” Jiang Kai interrupted, clearly rattled and looking even more upset.

“Jiang Kai, she’s not worth your anger. Uncle Jiang would never agree to you marrying her anyway. Look at Shen Yu—she’s liked you ever since you were kids, and—” Xia Hui was cut off mid-sentence by Jiang Kai’s icy stare. He sighed and fell silent, but his gaze at Chen Xiaoman and Chu Fei was full of malicious amusement, as if waiting for a show.

“Chen Xiaoman, tell me the truth. What’s your relationship with him? Have you two…?” Jiang Kai looked at her again, his anger now mixed with genuine heartbreak.

“We’re not what you think,” Chen Xiaoman stammered, her voice trembling.

“Not? Then what are you? Don’t tell me you’re just neighbors?” Jiang Kai sneered, plainly refusing to believe her.

“How did you know? We really are neighbors. I didn’t even know him before…” Chen Xiaoman blurted out in surprise.

Jiang Kai laughed bitterly. “Neighbors? Who are you trying to fool? The way you two were acting just now…”

“Jiang Kai, please listen—I swear it’s not like that. I—” Tears streamed down Chen Xiaoman’s face, her cheeks drained of color.

Jiang Kai’s words cut her like steel needles.

His refusal to believe her, not even offering a chance to explain, wounded her deeply.

“I’ll explain.”

A voice suddenly broke in.

Chu Fei finally stood and frowned.

“Yes, Chu Fei, please explain! We really aren’t what they think,” Chen Xiaoman said eagerly, grabbing his arm in desperation. This whole mess had started because of him, so it made sense for him to clear it up.

“Leave it to me.” Chu Fei smiled gently at her, then strode toward Jiang Kai.

Chen Xiaoman watched with growing anxiety and anticipation—only for her face to turn even paler the next instant.

Bang!

Without a word, Chu Fei kicked Jiang Kai square in the stomach, sending him stumbling backward to the ground, his face twisted in pain.

Chen Xiaoman was utterly stunned.

“What are you doing?” Xia Hui, the second young man, asked coldly.

Bang!

Chu Fei replied with another kick, not deigning to waste words. Xia Hui tumbled to the ground, unable to get up, his face contorted.

“Would you three like to try as well?” Chu Fei turned his gaze to the remaining three young men who seemed ready to rush forward.

They froze, terror in their eyes, and retreated two steps in unison. Chu Fei’s two kicks had terrified them—though they were privileged brats, they’d never been in a real fight before. But they’d seen enough to know Chu Fei was no ordinary opponent, especially with that chilling aura about him.

Having cowed the three, Chu Fei turned to face Shen Yu.

“What do you want?” Shen Yu, still in shock from what she’d witnessed, snapped back to reality as Chu Fei appeared before her.

Her answer was a resounding slap. The crisp sound rang out in the night. Shen Yu’s left cheek instantly swelled, her lip split and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

She cried out in pain, but the scream died in her throat as she saw Chu Fei still before her. Terrified, she instinctively backed away.

“I rarely hit women, but people like you are the exception,” Chu Fei said coldly, looking at the petrified girl. “Since your father never taught you respect, I’ll teach you now.”

Another slap.

Her other cheek ballooned, her lip split again, her face a battered mess. This time, she didn’t dare utter a sound—she was truly frightened out of her wits.

“Get lost!” Chu Fei’s gaze swept over the three remaining young men.

Without hesitation, they fled to their sports cars as fast as they could, not daring to look back, as if chased by wild dogs.

Even Jiang Kai was no exception; he didn’t even spare Chen Xiaoman a backward glance, running like a beaten dog.

The engines roared to life, and the sports cars sped away, leaving the street in silence once more.

Only after watching the cars vanish did Chu Fei turn back to Chen Xiaoman, about to speak—when a sudden flash of white appeared before his eyes.

Slap!

A loud smack rang out.

Chu Fei instinctively touched his stinging cheek, giving a wry smile to the trembling, furious Chen Xiaoman.

“What were you thinking? How could you just go around hitting people?” she demanded, her voice breaking, both angry and anxious.

“I just couldn’t stand them bullying you,” Chu Fei replied with a rueful smile, offering an excuse that was nonetheless the truth. In that moment, seeing her shivering with injustice, he’d been overwhelmed by a murderous rage, wanting nothing more than to crush those bastards.

Anyone who bullied Xiaoman deserved to die.

That was Chu Fei’s furious conviction, and he was certain Er Gou would feel the same.

“You—” Chen Xiaoman was suddenly at a loss for words. Especially seeing Chu Fei gingerly rubbing his left cheek, she was overcome with guilt. She was a gentle soul by nature, and had only lashed out in the heat of frustration. Now, calming down, she realized that everything Chu Fei had done was for her sake. And indeed, those people had gone too far.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry.”

Their apologies overlapped almost simultaneously.

Then they both paused in surprise. Chen Xiaoman spoke first: “I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to hit you just now. If you’re angry, you can hit me back.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Chu Fei burst out laughing at her words. Even if she had meant it, he’d never lay a hand on her—he only cared for her.

“You’re still laughing?” Chen Xiaoman found his laughter incomprehensible, thinking he must have been addled by her slap.

“Heh.” Chu Fei’s laughter grew more heartfelt. He looked at her seriously and said, “I should be the one apologizing. I was too impulsive just now—I shouldn’t have hit them. Don’t worry, I promise I won’t do it again.”

“There’ll be a next time?” Bitterness and grief flickered across Chen Xiaoman’s face. Thinking of Jiang Kai’s accusations and now Chu Fei’s actions, she realized their relationship was surely over.

“Why don’t you call Jiang Kai and ask him to meet up? I’ll apologize to him,” Chu Fei offered gently, reading her thoughts. He knew he’d been too rash.

Chen Xiaoman gave him a strange look, as if he were some kind of monster. Even if Jiang Kai agreed to meet, the moment he saw Chu Fei he’d probably faint from fright—how could he apologize?

She shook her head and sighed. “There’s no need.”

Chu Fei didn’t know what else to say. He could tell she was feeling terrible. Glancing at the now-cold spicy skewers, he said, “I’ve lost my appetite. Let’s go home.”

“Mm.” Chen Xiaoman nodded—she had even less appetite than before.

But instead of leaving, she went to the vendor and asked for two small bags, packing up their leftovers to take home. The sight made Chu Fei’s heart ache. You could tell a person’s character from their habits; her natural, unthinking thrift spoke volumes about her. It hadn’t even occurred to him to take the food home.